There are sun worshippers and then there are those who start melting like the Wicked Witch of the West after just a few minutes in the summer heat. If you’re the latter, you’ll love our tips for turning a cruel summer into a cool summer. So save yourself from becoming a hot mess and check out our ten tricks for staying comfortable in the sun.
1. Don’t Leave Home Without a Frozen Drink
Every few days, fill a few reusable water bottles with appealing warm-weather beverages like green tea, iced coffee, cucumber and lemon-infusions, or just plain old water. Stash them in the freezer, and grab one on your way out to do some sunbathing. As the drink melts, you’ll have a consistently frozen drink to keep you cool. Hint: Wrap the bottle in a towel to avoid ending up with a soggy bag from the condensation.
2. Invest in a Facial Mist
We’re loving all the toners and tonics that come in spray form so you can give yourself a mist on the go. Pop one into your purse for a rejuvenating cool blast whenever your face starts to feel like it’s melting.
3. Sunscreen. Enough said
They say there’s nothing new under the sun, and that includes this golden rule of sun comfort: wear sunscreen! Nothing is more uncomfortable than a tight, blistery sunburn. So make sure you’re using a wide-spectrum sun protector, re-applying as often as your SPF calls for, and thoroughly covering your exposed skin. Remember this easy tip: if you’re going out in a bikini, you’ll need about a shot glass full of sunscreen to be protected from head-to-toe. And don’t forget your lips!
4. Keep Your Pulses Cool
Not all sunbathing is at the beach—if you’re going to spend time in the sun but don’t have the opportunity to cool off by jumping in the water (say you’re at an outdoor wedding), simply sneak off to the bathroom and run your wrists under cold water for ten seconds each. This trick will lower your whole body temperature for about an hour.
5. Dress for the Heat
Work the monochrome trend to your advantage this summer. All black everything might be the easiest way to look chic the rest of the year, but even the coolest girls have to switch to lighter tones in the sun. Cruise your closet for natural fabrics like cotton, silk, bamboo and linen in cream, beige and pale pastels. Try layering tissue-thin fabrics to minimize the clothing that hugs your body. For example, wear a bandeau under an oversized racerback tank top or trade your short wrap skirt for a flowing maxi. For more formal engagements, the cotton blazer is your friend.
6. Keep Your Head Cool
A wide-brimmed hat will not only keep the sun off your face, neck, and shoulders, it will instantly give you a whimsical, bohemian vibe. Keep sweaty hair up and out of your face with a cute patterned headband. Wear a baseball cap when working out in the sun—and if you really need to beat the heat, try soaking it in cool water before you put it on.
7. Change Your Cosmetics with the Season
Wearing a heavy moisturizer at the beach is like wearing a scarf in July. Use the hot weather as an excuse to splurge on some new products with cooling ingredients like aloe, menthol and tea tree. Switch your vampy berry lipstick for a sheer lip color, your cream foundation for translucent powder and your facial serum for a lighter moisturizing milk.
8. Cool Down from the Inside Out
Nosh on cooling foods like juicy watermelon, crisp cucumber and mint gum. And while it may seem counterintuitive to pour on the hot sauce in the heat, spicy food can actually make you feel less hot by triggering perspiration to cool you off without actually raising your body temperature.
9. Switch Up Your Workout Schedule
Hot weather can really kill your motivation to work out—who wants to go jogging when you’re breaking a sweat from just sitting around. You can prevent yourself from ditching your workout plans by changing your schedule so that you’re most active during the coolest times of day. The sun is strongest from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., so try to get moving in the early morning or late evening.
10. Go Polar
Sunglasses are probably already your go-to sun accessory, but if you’re shopping around for a new pair, keep an eye out for polarized lenses. This special treatment cuts glare and haze from the bright sun reflecting off horizontal surfaces, and most top eyewear designers include this filter in their collections. You may have to spend a bit more for polarized sunglasses, but you’ll not only be more comfortable because you won’t have to squint all day, you’ll also be actively preventing your eyes from developing crow’s feet!
